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Crop Management

All Crop Management Content

A green cover crop mixture grows on a calm day; mainly consisting of oats and peas.

Buying or Selling Oats for a Cover Crop? Be Sure to Follow the Rules

As a challenging 2019 row crop planting season wraps up in South Dakota, many producers are looking to plant cover crops on unplanted acres. One popular cool-season grass cover crop is oats. Most oats in South Dakota are grown as certified varieties, and it is important to be aware of the legal ramifications behind purchasing oat seed for use as a cover crop.

Green leaves on a buckthorn tree covered with crusty spots of bright orange crown rust inoculum.

Oats Crown Rust Inoculum Abundant This Year

Crown rust is the most important fungal disease of oats in South Dakota. In years with heavy disease pressure, susceptible cultivars can have over 80% yield loss due to crown rust. The presence of crown rust inoculum on buckthorns can be an indication of the likely risk for crown rust to develop during the growing season. Buckthorns scouted recently were loaded with crown rust inoculum.

oats

2017-2018 Multi-State Organic Oat Variety Trial Results

The tight production margins currently present in agriculture have increased interest in growing organic oats.

Farmer standing in a no-till field.

Farming Practice Comparisons in South Dakota: A case study across the fence and implications for the future

This extension study intends to provide some new insights on the financial and carbon storage comparisons between neighboring farms using conventional farming versus conservation practices (mainly no-till and cover crops).

Farmer calibrating a yield monitor insde a combine cab.

Improving Yield Data Accuracy: Challenges and Solutions

Fact sheet about improving yield data accuracy

A green tractor pulls a planter to plant oats in a field

SDSU Extension Crop Hour webinar series starts in January

December 11, 2023

South Dakota State University Extension’s 2024 Crop Hour webinar series will start Jan. 9, with webinars hosted from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for nine weeks.

Soil scientist conducting an in-field soil test.

Soil Carbon Cycle and Laboratory Measurements of Carbon Related to Soil Health

Carbon is one the most-important elements in agricultural soils. Take in-depth look at how carbon is understood, measured, and managed to benefit soil health in agricultural production.

A spade stands upright in a corn field with tall, green corn stalks around it

SDSU Extension to host soil management conference in December

November 08, 2023

South Dakota State University Extension will host the 2023 Managing Soil: Maximizing Profit conference on Dec. 12.

Farmer calibrating a yield monitor insde a combine cab.

Comprehensive Guide to Grain Yield Monitoring Systems

A comprehensive guide to grain yield monitoring systems

A screenshot of an aerial map view with a pin showing where the SDSU Specialty Crop Research Field-South is

SDSU Extension to host third annual Specialty Crop Field Day in Brookings

September 06, 2023

South Dakota State University Extension’s horticulture team invites everyone to attend the 2023 Specialty Crop Field Day.